Leaf tobacco harvesting crate



H L HENDRICK 2,555,925

LEAF TOBACCO HARVESTING CRATE Filed Dec. 20, 1946 [mentor Herbert L Hendrick Aztorneys June 5, 1951 Patented June 5, 1951 UNIT ED STAT ES PATENT F FIC E;

LEAF ToBAooo HARVESTING. CRATE Herbert Hendrick, Carthage, CL

Application December 2 0, 1946 Serial No- 717,404

This invention relates to an improved crate especially adapted to retain tobacco therein after harvesting.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco retaining means.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved gripping means in said retaining means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved method of manufacturing a tobacco retaining crate.

Other objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred forms of the inventive concept illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail .of construction showing the handle or gripping means and taken substantially upon the line 2-2 in Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 3 shows a sectional detailed view of a modified form of handle or gripping means.

Referrin now in detail to the illustrated preferred embodiment of the instant invention, like reference characters are used throughout to indicate similar elements.

The said preferred embodiment of the invention is a four-sided structure, with two sides, the back and the bottom closed, while the front and top are left open. Figure 1 is illustrative of this construction. This invention has been developed to be used preferably, in units or banks of four on a tobacco ground slide usually drawn through the tobacco field by an animal during harvest season. The tobacco ready to be harvested is pulled from the stalks of tobacco or plants by the harvesters and placed in these crates with the butt ends of the leaves to the front or open side of the crate and with the tips of the leaves to the back. The units or banks of crates are to be stationed on the ground slide thereby forming a receptacle for the tobacco, obviating the conventional open slide with no partitions. This invention tends to keep the tobacco in an orderly position with all of the butts of the tobacco leaves facing in the same direction in each crate. Obviously, the handling of tobacco is rendered extremely convenient.

A sheet metal or the like, piece of stock is bent to .a substantially U-shaped configuration, defining a back wall I0 and side walls 12 and 14. A base 16 is then suitably secured to edges of the legs 12 and I4 and suitably secured to the back or web Ii]. Conventional means for securing such as welding or brazing may be used. If so desired, however, rivets or bolts may be employed.

A flap is then cut out of the upper portions of the legs [2 and Hand said flap is bent arcuately around bracing 18 to be described hereinafter. The arcuately bent fiap portions define a handle or grasping member 20 cooperating with the aperture 22 formed when the said flap is bent or out out.

Secured to the peripheral free edges of the sides l2 and 14, the back Ill and the base [6, is a plurality of bracing members 24. These members 24 may be formed from a continuous length of angle iron by cutting appropriate V-notches for forming corners therein. After the notches are out, the length of angle iron stock is bent to a right angular position and welded or brazed in place. Then, the angle iron bracing may be welded, riveted, brazed or the like to the free peripheral edges of the crates as described hereinabove. It is noted that one flange of the said angle iron is adapted to face the plane surfaces of said crates and the other flange thereof is adapted to face the innermost portions of the said receptacle or crate.

The said handle 20 is bent around the bottom portion of the inner flange of angle iron. 24 and may be conventionally secured thereto as by welding, riveting and the like. A second embodiment of the handle portion is shown in Figure 3. Instead of bending the flap outwardly and around the angle iron bracing 24, the flap is cut off completely. Then, a piece of flat metal stock is bent substantially 270 and a pair of substantially radial clamping portions 26 are provided integral therewith. Obviously, from an inspection of Figure 1, it can be seen that the clamping portions 26 may be secured to the said member 24 thereby forming a handle portion indicated at 28.

By the use of this invention, much time can be saved in handling tobacco as it is kept in an orderly fashion. Further, much bruising and destruction of tobacco is obviated since it does not shift or fall after it is placed within the illustrated tobacco harvesting crates.

Due to the extreme mechanical simplicity which characterizes this invention, a more lengthy description thereof is deemed unnecessary. However, it is understood that various changes including omissions and additions may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claim.

Having thus described the instant invention what is claimed as'novel and improved is as follows:

A tobacco crate comprising a unitary substantially U-shaped body member having apertures in the legs thereof, a base secured to lower edges of said body member to thereby form a bottom therefor and to thereby form a receptacle having an open top and an open front, angle iron braces secured to the free edges of said body member and base, handle grips on said legs, each grip extending through one of said apertures and around one of said braces, said angle iron braces being attached with one leg of each flush with the legs of the U-shaped member and on the exterior surface thereof, each of said handle grips being rolled approximately to a curve of 270 and having a flat substantially radial portion attached to the undersurface of one of said legs of said angle iron braces. 1 V V HERBERT L. HENDRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 392,062 Kruse June 30, 1908 1,010,269 Klocke Nov. 28, 1911 1,030,845 Kaufimann June 25, 1912 1,222,451 Ohnstrand Apr. 10, 1917 1,754,492 Wetzel Apr. 15, 1930 2,243,625 Gettelman May 27, 1941 2,455,700 :Shaw Dec. 7, 1948 

